Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives

On October 1, 1962 the coup issued the announcement No. 216 demanding that the Ministry of National Development be no longer exist. The Department of Cooperatives Promotion, the Department of Cooperative Auditing, the Department of Irrigation and the Land Development Department were then transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and the ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives until today.

At the same period, the Department of Agriculture was formed as a result of merger between Department of Farming and Department of Rice following the policy to reorganize the administration of government agencies by combining department with closely related responsibilities together.

In addition, the Marketing Organization for Farmers was set up as a state enterprise under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The major objective of the organization is to provide support for farmers in issues regarding farming and manufacturing. The Agriculture Land Reform Office was established with an objective to allocate land for farmers, guide Thai farmers on land usage, manufacturing system, distribution system. The mission of the Agriculture Land Reform Office is to conduct economic and social reform for Thai farmers. Apart from these organization, the Office of Agricultural Economics was also set up under this ministry.

According to the extension of the coup announcement No. 216 dated September 29, 1972, the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives covers agricultural affairs, agricultural economics, agricultural land reform, irrigation, fisheries, livestock, forestry, land development, and cooperatives. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives consists of 13 department and offices which are: Office of Secretary to the Minister, Office of Permanent Secretary, The Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Cooperative Auditing, Department of Fishery, Department of Livestock, Department of Forestry, Land Development Department, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Extension, Cooperative Promotion Department, Agriculture Land Reform Office, and Office of Agricultural Economics.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is also responsible for 7 state enterprises attached to it which are: The Forestry Industry Organization, Rubber Estate Organization, Rubber Estate Welfare Fund Office, Fish Marketing Organization, Marketing Organization for Farmers, Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand, and Thai Plywood Co., Ltd.